Mark LeCras backs game plan of Adam Simpson

AFL correspondent in Western Australia

Mark LeCras says the Eagles need to put in four-quarter efforts to have any hope of making the finals.

West Coast forward Mark LeCras doesn’t believe that a lack of knowledge of new coach Adam Simpson’s game plan is the reason for the Eagles poor start to the season.

While there is often discussions surrounding a side’s style of play, LeCras says that no one single game plan defines a side.

He puts the Eagles 11th placing on the AFL ladder down to a lack of consistent effort over four quarters.

And he says that until they get the football basics right, they won’t progress any closer to a spot in the eight.

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“I mean the game plan evolves each week. A game plan is not something you get given at the start of the season and you've got to figure it out by the end of the season or mid-season,” he said.

“Game plans evolve, depending on who you're playing. A lot of it depends on that.

“It's hard to read where we're at with that sort of stuff.

“We've just been working on the basics at training. It was there for probably three quarters of the game (against the Gold Coast).

“The fact we responded better this week than what we did against Carlton when they came at us was a pleasing sign. But we've still got a lot of work to do - a lot of work on the training track and hopefully we can keep improving.”

“I think we're about 11th or something. It's probably about right.

“For the footy we've played we don't deserve to be any higher, so we've gotta improve quite a bit in the second half of the year if we want to improve on the ladder.”

The Eagles led the Suns by 39 points early on during Saturday’s game at Patersons Stadium and by 36 points just after three-quarter-time.

They had dominated the game; acting captain Josh Kennedy had kicked seven goals and most of the Suns impressive midfield group of Gary Ablett, Jaeger O’Meara and David Swallow had had little impact.

But Gold Coast responded well, on the back mainly of the aforementioned players, but also Dion Prestia who had been outstanding for the entire game.

And they hit the front at the 19-minute mark of the final term, looking for their first win in Perth.